All my life I have wanted to be a teacher. Most children want to become an actor or singer when they are younger, but me, I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. Throughout my schooling, I’ve had teachers that were amazing and I told myself that I wanted to be just like them, but add my own twist to their methods. When I was old enough to realize that becoming an elementary school teacher was the profession I was interested in, I tried to find ways to get as much experience working with children as I could. While gaining this experience, i realized my area of personal expertise is working with children.
As a child I went to day camp, where I met new friends and new counselors every summer. Of course I enjoyed my time as a camper, but I couldn’t wait to be a counselor. When the time finally came four years ago that I was old enough to become a counselor I was beyond overjoyed. When my boss asked me what age I would like to work with, I had a difficult time deciding, but when I took the time to think about it I realized that I wanted to work with younger children, so I could help them learn new things. My first summer as a counselor, I had girls that were between the ages of five and six years old. Before my first day of camp I was excited and anxious to meet them, and I thought that everything would go smoothly, I quickly learned that I was wrong. Working with children that young was very difficult. You had to explain everything to them, and for the most part had to do everything for them. It was a hard task to stay patient all the time. After my first day I was aggravated, and confused. The reality of working with children had never completely sunk in, until I actually worked with them. I started to doubt myself, and my abilities to work with children.
The next day I was dreading going to work and having the same day all over again. My mom must have realized I wasn’t being myself, and sat me down for a talk. She asked me all about why I choose to be a counselor in the first place, and my answer was simple, I love children. She told me to keep that in the back of my mind, and when I had a stressful situation to deal with, just think about that. I told myself that was easier said then done, but it was worth a try. Thinking about it more and more, I went to work with a new approach. I reminded myself that patience was a virtue, and a virtue I needed to have. I recalled the counselors I had when I was the girls age, and I realized how calm they stayed and how nurturing they were. I told myself that was exactly how I was going to be, and it worked. I found myself enjoying my time with the girls.
Throughout the summer the counselors were constantly reminded that they were the most influential people for the kids while they were at camp. I looked at my co-counselors and thought about how great they were. I never thought I was that influential on the girls until the last day of camp. The girls came into camp that day, tears running down their faces because they didn’t want to say goodbye. Their parents thanked me for spending time with their children and for teaching and enforcing simple things, like saying please and thank you. When the day was over, the girls hugged me and told me I was their favorite counselor. Hearing that come from them confirmed the fact that I wanted to spend the rest of my life teaching children. I had such an amazing summer that I continued to work as a camp counselor for four years, and still do to this day.
My senior year of high school, I decided I needed to get a job and start gaining work experience. I knew that I couldn’t work behind a cash register because I would be bored, and it wouldn’t help with my future profession. I searched for a job at the beginning of the summer before my senior year started. I looked for a job for a few weeks until a family friend told me about a job working at an after school program at an elementary school. As soon as I heard about the job I knew it was perfect for me! When I had gotten the job, my boss told me that I would be in charge of a little girl who was autistic. Similarly to my first summer as a camp counselor, I thought this would be a piece of cake, and yet again I was proven wrong. As soon as she walked into the cafeteria, which is where the after school program met, she started screaming and didn’t want to listen to me. I tried my hardest to stay calm and be patient and understanding, but it was extremely difficult. Unlike my second day of camp, my second day of this job was the same as the first. She wouldn’t listen to me, and my patience was wearing thin.
Instead of remaining frustrated, and repeating the same problems every day for the rest of the year, I decided to make a change. I did some research on autism, and realized that she didn’t listen to me because I wasn’t explaining things to her in the right way, and because she could feel my frustration. The next day I put this new information to good use. I explained things more clearly, and I stayed more patient. By the end of the day, I had successfully gotten through to her, and she listened to me.
At the after school program I had to work with children in grades that varied from kindergarten to fifth grade. I had never worked with such a diverse group of children in my life. The task of helping the different ages with homework, and just making sure they listened and being a good role model for them was a great experience, and I wouldn’t change a minute of it. Everything I did there taught me something. The amount I learned from the children surprised me because I never thought that I could learn from them. My favorite part of the job was helping the children with their homework. Nothing feels more fulfilling then seeing the smile on a child’s face when they figure out the answer to a question, especially when you helped them figure it out. I made it my goal to make sure that every child I helped wouldn’t give up if they couldn’t think of the answer right away. I knew it was important to teach them to keep trying, and have faith in themselves. Teaching the kids that at a young age, is something that is so important. I’m sure their parents and teachers were telling them the same thing, but I thought that if they heard it over and over again, the message would get through, and have a bigger impact on them.
Of course there is always more to learn in life. That’s something that will never change. There is so much more information I need before I can become a teacher, and even when I become a teacher I will still be learning, from experiences and from the children. Even though I have only been working with kids for a few years, I feel confident enough to say that working with them is my area of personal expertise.
As a child I went to day camp, where I met new friends and new counselors every summer. Of course I enjoyed my time as a camper, but I couldn’t wait to be a counselor. When the time finally came four years ago that I was old enough to become a counselor I was beyond overjoyed. When my boss asked me what age I would like to work with, I had a difficult time deciding, but when I took the time to think about it I realized that I wanted to work with younger children, so I could help them learn new things. My first summer as a counselor, I had girls that were between the ages of five and six years old. Before my first day of camp I was excited and anxious to meet them, and I thought that everything would go smoothly, I quickly learned that I was wrong. Working with children that young was very difficult. You had to explain everything to them, and for the most part had to do everything for them. It was a hard task to stay patient all the time. After my first day I was aggravated, and confused. The reality of working with children had never completely sunk in, until I actually worked with them. I started to doubt myself, and my abilities to work with children.
The next day I was dreading going to work and having the same day all over again. My mom must have realized I wasn’t being myself, and sat me down for a talk. She asked me all about why I choose to be a counselor in the first place, and my answer was simple, I love children. She told me to keep that in the back of my mind, and when I had a stressful situation to deal with, just think about that. I told myself that was easier said then done, but it was worth a try. Thinking about it more and more, I went to work with a new approach. I reminded myself that patience was a virtue, and a virtue I needed to have. I recalled the counselors I had when I was the girls age, and I realized how calm they stayed and how nurturing they were. I told myself that was exactly how I was going to be, and it worked. I found myself enjoying my time with the girls.
Throughout the summer the counselors were constantly reminded that they were the most influential people for the kids while they were at camp. I looked at my co-counselors and thought about how great they were. I never thought I was that influential on the girls until the last day of camp. The girls came into camp that day, tears running down their faces because they didn’t want to say goodbye. Their parents thanked me for spending time with their children and for teaching and enforcing simple things, like saying please and thank you. When the day was over, the girls hugged me and told me I was their favorite counselor. Hearing that come from them confirmed the fact that I wanted to spend the rest of my life teaching children. I had such an amazing summer that I continued to work as a camp counselor for four years, and still do to this day.
My senior year of high school, I decided I needed to get a job and start gaining work experience. I knew that I couldn’t work behind a cash register because I would be bored, and it wouldn’t help with my future profession. I searched for a job at the beginning of the summer before my senior year started. I looked for a job for a few weeks until a family friend told me about a job working at an after school program at an elementary school. As soon as I heard about the job I knew it was perfect for me! When I had gotten the job, my boss told me that I would be in charge of a little girl who was autistic. Similarly to my first summer as a camp counselor, I thought this would be a piece of cake, and yet again I was proven wrong. As soon as she walked into the cafeteria, which is where the after school program met, she started screaming and didn’t want to listen to me. I tried my hardest to stay calm and be patient and understanding, but it was extremely difficult. Unlike my second day of camp, my second day of this job was the same as the first. She wouldn’t listen to me, and my patience was wearing thin.
Instead of remaining frustrated, and repeating the same problems every day for the rest of the year, I decided to make a change. I did some research on autism, and realized that she didn’t listen to me because I wasn’t explaining things to her in the right way, and because she could feel my frustration. The next day I put this new information to good use. I explained things more clearly, and I stayed more patient. By the end of the day, I had successfully gotten through to her, and she listened to me.
At the after school program I had to work with children in grades that varied from kindergarten to fifth grade. I had never worked with such a diverse group of children in my life. The task of helping the different ages with homework, and just making sure they listened and being a good role model for them was a great experience, and I wouldn’t change a minute of it. Everything I did there taught me something. The amount I learned from the children surprised me because I never thought that I could learn from them. My favorite part of the job was helping the children with their homework. Nothing feels more fulfilling then seeing the smile on a child’s face when they figure out the answer to a question, especially when you helped them figure it out. I made it my goal to make sure that every child I helped wouldn’t give up if they couldn’t think of the answer right away. I knew it was important to teach them to keep trying, and have faith in themselves. Teaching the kids that at a young age, is something that is so important. I’m sure their parents and teachers were telling them the same thing, but I thought that if they heard it over and over again, the message would get through, and have a bigger impact on them.
Of course there is always more to learn in life. That’s something that will never change. There is so much more information I need before I can become a teacher, and even when I become a teacher I will still be learning, from experiences and from the children. Even though I have only been working with kids for a few years, I feel confident enough to say that working with them is my area of personal expertise.